US2850023A - Toupee - Google Patents

Description

G. H. TAYLOR TOUPEE Sept. 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1-957 INVENTOR.

GLEN H. TAYLOR W W W p 2, 1958 r G. H. TAYLOR 2,850,023

TOUPEE Filed June 25, 1957 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

I GLEN H. TAYLOR BY Cowaw /mw W TOUPEE Glen H. Taylor, Pocatello, Idaho, assignor of one-half to Dora M. P. Taylor, Bannock County, Idaho Application June 25, 1957, Serial No. 667,917

'- Claims. (Cl. 132-54) This invention relates to a toupee which surpasses the conventional toupee in appearance and comfort.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a toupee which comprises a rigid plastic with vent holes that is molded to the configuration of the bald portion of the head, the front hairline edge of which is downwardly offset from the remainder of the base, hair which is glued to the outer surface of the plastic base and around the front edge and adhesive means carried on the inner surface of the plastic base away from the front edge to removably secure the toupee to the scalp. Such a construction provides the following advantages:

Firstly, because the base of the toupee contacts the scalp only at the front hairline edge and at the locations where the adhesive means contact the scalp, an air space is provided between the base and the scalp to permit evaporation of perspiration and proper ventilation of the scalp. Thus the toupee can be worn with comfort even in hot weather.

Secondly, because the base is rigid and the front edge is downwardly offset therefrom, extra pressure is provided at the hairline giving the appearance of hair growing directly out of the scalp.

Thirdly, because the base is rigid and touches the scalp only at the front hairline, the major portion of the toupee, in efliect, fioats over the scalp thereby providing greater comfort to the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toupee of the character described which is relatively simple in design and construction and which can be readily attached to the scalp with ease and in such a manner that the front hairline edge can be made to press against the scalp and assume the proper natural position.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a head fitted with the toupee of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the toupee per se; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Specific reference is now made to the drawings wherein similar reference characters are used for corresponding elements throughout.

The toupee comprises a rigid base member 12, hair 14 on the outer surface and around the front edge of the base and means 16 carried on the inner surface of the base to removably secure the toupee on the scalp or bald pate.

The base is molded in a desired thickness of a suitable plastic, such as the acrylics, to conform to the shape and dimensions of the bald spot 18. In the molding ice process, the front edge 20 which corresponds to the desired front hairline is downwardly ofiset as at 22. The outer surface of the base from the location of the offset to the front edge is also feathered or tapered as at 24.

Vent holes 26 are provided in the base member.

The hair'14 of any desired shade and textureis secured upon the outer surface of the base and around and under the front edge 20 by means of any suitable water proof adhesive, preferably an acrylic adhesive. To simulate a hairline which is natural in appearance, the hair may be embedded as at 28 in the front edge and inthe undersurface thereof and the hair may extend fro'mthe base at an angleto the front hairline edge, as.

shown'in Figure 4. v

The means 16 to removably secure the toupee on the scalp comprises at least one and preferably two pads or strips having pressure sensitive adhesive on its opposite faces. Each strip is anchored to the inner surface of the base by means of the adhesive on one of its faces thereby leaving the opposite adhesive face free for attachment to the scalp. The strips 16 are carried by the plastic base in positions away from the offset 22 of the front hairline edge 20. New adhesive strips can be used to replace the old ones when needed. The thickness of the strips 16 approximates the depth of the offset 22 as will be apparent from Figure 2.

In the manufacture of the toupee, a sheet of wax, preferably of an inch thick, is placed over the bald area, the sheet terminating approximately /2 inch short of the desired location of the front hairline. A first plaster mold is cast over the wax to form a negative and then a second plastic mold is cast as a positive from the first to produce a working model whose surface is $5 of an inch higher than the scalp exceptat the front hairline area. The second mold is then covered with the plastic, tinted if desired, which is A inch thick and feathered at its front upper surface as at 24. The hair around the front hairline edge 20 may be embedded in the plastic when the plastic is being molded. After the plastic has set and become rigid, vent holes 26 are made therein and the rest of the hair is secured to the upper surface thereof by a suitable waterproof adhesive.

In use, the toupee is put on the head in the proper position to cover the bald spot and then pressed downwardly to make the free surfaces of the pads 16 adhere to the scalp. The toupee is then combed and is ready to Wear in a matter of a few seconds. In its final position on the head, the rigid plastic base 12 contacts the scalp only at the front downwardly offset hairline edge 20 and at the points of contact of the adhesive pads 16. The remainder of the base floats above the scalp thereby providing an air space 30 which cooperates with the vent holes 26 to allow proper circulation of air and resultant evaporation of perspiration from the scalp. At the same time there is constant extra pressure of the front edge 20 against the scalp to create the appearance of hair growing directly out of the scalp, which appearance is aided by the fact that the hair extends around the front edge of the toupee and is embedded in the toupee at said front edge. The constant pressure of the front hairline edge against the scalp is assured by the fact that the thickness of the adhesive pads 16 approximates or is slightly less than the depth of the offset 22.

Minor variations may be made in the construction of the toupee withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A toupee comprising a rigid plastic perforated base having a front hairline edge which is downwardly offset relative to the rest of the base, hair secured to the outer surface of the base and around the front hairline edge and spaced adhesive strips secured to portions of the inner Patented Sept. 2, 1958 3 surface of the base and adapted to attach the toupee to the scalp.

2. The toupee of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the adhesive strips approximates the depth of the offset of the front hairline edge and said strips a e spaced from said front hairline edge.

3. A toupee comprising a rigid plastic perforated base having a front hairline edge which is downwardly ofiset relative to the rest of the base, hair secured to the outer surface of the base and around the front hairline edge and means carried on portions of the inner surface of the base away from the front hairline edge to removably attach the toupee to the scalp, whereby the front hairline edge is urged against the scalp and the remainder of the base is spaced above the scalp to provide a ventilation area thereat.

4. The toupee of claim 3 wherein said means comprises at least one strip having pressure-sensitive adhesive on its opposite surfaces one of which is secured to the inner surface of the base, said strip being of a thickness approximating the distance which the front hairline edge is ofiset from the rest of the base.

5. A toupee comprising a rigid perforated plastic base molded to the configuration of the bald portion of ones head and having a front hairline edge which is downwardly offset relative to the rest of the base, hair secured to the outer surface of the base, and means carried by the inner surface of said base to attach said base to the scalp, said means being spaced from said front hairline edge and acting to urge the latter against the scalp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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